Man arrested in Larimer County for attempted murder of a peace officer after leading chase
A 29-year-old man described as a transient in the Fort Collins area is facing numerous charges, including attempted first-degree murder of a peace officer, after allegedly nearly running over a sheriff’s deputy and leading a chase on Saturday, the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office said.
About 5:30 p.m. Saturday, investigators with the sheriff’s office’s Strategic Enforcement Unit found an occupied stolen vehicle in a parking lot at West Elizabeth Street and South Taft Hill Road in Fort Collins.
Investigators said they saw four people in the vehicle and followed it as it went through an apartment complex parking lot in the 1000 block of Hobbit Street.
A vehicle pinch maneuver was done by deputies by turning on their emergency lights and making contact with the front and rear bumpers of the vehicle with their patrol vehicles.
But the suspect vehicle reversed into a patrol vehicle, nearly running over a deputy, the sheriff’s office said.
The suspect, later identified as 29-year-old Joshua Joseph Rendon, then drove forward into the other patrol vehicle and sped way over a retaining wall and onto a street.
Deputies pursued the vehicle but quickly terminated it because of Rendon’s erratic driving, the sheriff’s office.
The suspect vehicle was found a short time later and deputies began another pursuit as additional deputies and investigators responded to assist.
The sheriff’s office said Rendon drove the stolen vehicle right at two patrol vehicles and nearly hit them head-on.
A deputy used the Precision Immobilization Technique maneuver to stop the vehicle, causing it to roll over and crash near West Horsetooth Road and Goodell Lane, the sheriff’s office said.
Rendon was ejected from the vehicle but fled into a field. He was quickly found in the backyard of a residence, the sheriff’s office said.
Rendon was taken to a hospital to be treated for minor injuries. When released, he will be booked into the Larimer County Jail.
The sheriff’s office said Rendon is facing charges of attempted first-degree murder of a peace officer, attempted second-degree assault on a peace officer, aggravated motor vehicle theft, theft of motor vehicle parts, vehicular eluding, criminal mischief, second-degree criminal trespass, resisting arrest, driving under suspension, reckless endangerment, driving without a seat belt and criminal possession of an ID document.
Another man was the only other occupant in the vehicle when it crashed. He told investigators that the other two people were dropped off after Rendon fled the apartment complex.
The passenger was taken to a hospital to be treated for minor injuries. He was not arrested.
West Horsetooth Road was closed between South Taft Hill Road and Seneca Street for about 3 ½ hours for investigation of the crash.




